Portable illuminated danger signal



March 31, 1959 L. s. LERMAN I PORTABLE ILLUMINATED DANGER SIGNAL Filed Feb. 28, 1957 m m M L Eon/A RD 5. Lmw/w A TTORNEY United States Patent PORTABLE ILLUMINATED DANGER SIGNAL Leonard S. Lerman, Union, NJ.

Application February 28, 1957, Serial No. 643,059

12 "Claims. (Cl- 340-81) This invention relates to signal-devices adapted to give warning in diiferent uses thereof, such, for example, as

giving warning of a pipe or the like crossing a street or pathway where people are walking and, further, to provide a danged signal placed on a roadway to signal that a car is parked for repair so that on-coming traffic will be warned of the existence of this condition.

More particularly, the invention deals with a hood-like casing having, at the top thereof, a blinking signal light, preferably red in color, and a pair of other lights disposed within the hood and casting a beam through oppositely open sides of the hood to illuminate the roadway, street or the like to render objects in alinement with said light visible.

Still more particularly, the invention deals with a signal device of the character described, employing collapsible legs for high and low mounting of the device and, wherein, the side walls of the hood have marked thereon, in luminescent material, signaling words or sayings which are visible in the day and illuminated at night by glow of a light directed thereto.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a device made according to my invention, parts of the construction being shown in elevation and with the leg members indicated, in part, in extended position in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the structure, as seen in Fig. 1, with part of the construction broken away; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring diagram which I employ.

In the drawing represents a hook-like casing, comprisinga narrow top wall 11 and depending flared side walls 12, 12 which, in the use of the device, would constitute front andback walls with regard to positioning of the device on a sidewalk, path or roadway, so that the outer fiat surfaces of these walls become visible to approaching traflic from either direction so as to read the inscriptions applied to the outer surfaces of these walls which are applied in luminescent material and, in giving one illustration for one use of the device, such words and expressions as Danger and Watch Your Step" can be applied.

Pivoted to the lower corner portions-of each wall 12, 12 arepai'rs of legs 13 and 14 and, as each pair are of the same construction, the brief description of one will apply to the other.

It will be noted, from a consideration of Fig. .2', thatthe legs 13 are spaced outwardly from the. legs M, sol;

"12,. The legs are indicated, in part, in their outwardly F i-C6 flared extended operative position in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

To the legs 13, 14 are pivoted bracing brackets 15, 16, respectively, having elongated slots 17 and 18 with offset notches 19 and 20 therein so that, in the extended position, pins 21, secured to the walls 12, 12', will drop into the notches 19 and 20 in retaining the legs 13 and 14 in their extended operative position.

Arranged within the hood is a transverse bottom wall 22, having depending end flanges 23, which are welded or otherwise secured to inner surfaces of the walls 12, 12'. Hinged to the sides of the bottom wall 22, as at 24, are two end wall frames 25, 26. These frames comprise bottom wall portions 27 and 28 forming part of the hinges, as at 24, and vertical wall portions 29 and 30, having apertures 31 therein to expose projection lenses 32 through the walls 29, 30 to throw beams of light through the open ends of the hood, as will be apparent. The lenses are mounted in frames 33 secured to the walls 29 and 39, as at 34.

The walls 29 and 30 are fashioned to conform with and fit snugly within the upper portion of the hood, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, and upper ends of these walls terminate in reduced outwardly projecting flanges 35, 36, having turndown fingerpiece ends 37 and 38. Suitable fastening means, as at 39, is employed to secure the frames'25, 26 in their normally closed position. However, upon removing the fastenings 39, either one or both of these frames can be lowered on the hinges 24 to give access to the compartment 40 which is formed within the upper portion of the hood by the frames 25, 26 and the bottom wall 22.

Supported on the bottom wall 22 is a heavy-duty battery ll, having terminals 42 and 43 at one end thereof, with which circuit wires 44, 45, respectively, are coupled. Note Fig. 3.

Mounted on the top wall 11 of the hood is a flash signal device 4-6, preferably having red signal lenses 47 at opposed sides thereof, so as to give red flashing signals at the front and rear surfaces of the hood, as will be apparent from a consideration of Fig, 2 of the drawing.

The flash signal device 46 is grounded on the casing structure, as are also two end lights or bulbs 48 and 49, the latter being mounted in yoke-shaped supports 50, which are secured to the bottom walls 27 and 28 of the casings 25, 26. This grounding is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 by the ground wire 5'1 from the device 46 and the ground wires 52, 53 from the lights 48 and 49, respectively.

Also supported on the bottom walls 27, 28, inwardly of the lights 48 and 49, are suitable reflectors 54 for direction of the beam of light through the lenses 32, thus throwing the light beam outwardly through the open sides of the hood to illuminate the roadway or pathway,

as well as any objects that may prevail in the light beam such, for example, as a hose or other article placed across a driveway or walk, as well as to cast a light beam onto the side of a car parked along a roadway, particularly in illuminating the wheel portion of the car, assuming that the driver of the vehicle is in the operation of replacing a flat tire.

Secured on the vertical wall of one of the casings, the casing 26 in the present showing, is a suitable switch 55, which is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and this switch is placed in one of the circuit wires 44, 45 to control the battery circuit; whereas, wires 56 and 57 extend from the lights 48, 49 to the circuit wire 44 and another wire 58 extends to one end of a thermal flasher 59 controlling the flashsignal 46. Another circuit wire 60 extends from the flasher to said signal 46. It will thus be seen that, when the circuit is closed through operation of the switch 55, illumination of the lights 48 and 49 will be constant; whereas, operation of the signal 46 will be intermittent; thus providing a flashing signal detectable through both of the lenses 47.

It is also preferred that the top wall of the hood has, adjacent the ends thereof, apertures to receive the sticks or rods 61 of signal flags, the sticks only being shown to simplify the illustration, but these signal flags, preferably red in color, can normally be housed within the hood when the device is stored and are utilized principally in the daylight to provide added signaling.

Considering Fig. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the pivots of the leg members 13, 14 include wing nuts 62, so that the legs may be tightened in their extended, as well as collapsed, positions. It will also be noted, from a consideration of Fig. 1, that the pivots of the brackets 15 and 16 with the leg members are closely adjacent the pivots of the leg members.

Secured to the upper surface of the bottom walls 27 and 28 of the casings 25, 26 are upwardly curved spring fingers 63 which engage the ends of the battery 41 to position and support the battery in fixed position within the compartment 40.

It will be understood that, in addition to the intermittent operation of the flash signal device 46 and the beams of light projected through the open ends of the hood, the inscriptions of luminescent material on the side surfaces of the walls 12, 12' will be readable in the day and illuminated at night, particularly when used on a roadway, illuminating being effected by the headlights of oncoming vehicles which may approach the point of danger from either direction, it being understood that the signal device is placed transversely across the road with the lenses 47 facing traflic in both directions and the beams of light extending transversely across the road.

A device of the type and kind can be conveniently stored in its collapsed position in the luggage compartment of a car or in any suitable place on a truck or other vehicle, particularly fuel oil delivery trucks, where it is extremely desirable to use a signal device of the type and kind under consideration over the fuel oil hose where it crosses a sidewalk or path of any kind to signal pedestrians and illuminate the hose arranged beneath the hood and projecting from either side thereof to avoid any danger of the pedestrians tripping over the hose.

No attempt has been made to illustrate the application of the luminescent material on the outer surfaces of the walls 12, 12, as such printing matter of the words or sayings as illustrated above are well-known in the art.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing, a double ended flash signal device supported upon the upper portion of the casing, means for supporting light bulbs in the casing for projecting light through opposed open ends of the casing,

means centrally of the upper portion of the casing for supporting a battery therein for supply of current to said light bulbs and said flash signal, a switch device controlling the circuit to said bulbs and flash device, and said first named means comprising frames movably supported in the casing to give access to said bulbs and a battery supported within the casing.

2. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing, a double ended flash signal device supported upon the upper portion of the casing, means for supporting light bulbs in the casing for projecting light through opposed open ends of the casing, means centrally of the upper portion of the casing for supporting a battery therein for supply of current to said light bulbs and said flash signal, a switch device controlling the circuit to said bulbs and flash device, said first named means comprising frames movably supported in the casing to give access to said bulbs and a battery supported within the casing, and said frames supporting, adjacent each bulb, a projecting lens and a reflector.

3. A signal device of the chara'eterdeseribed, comprising a hood-like casing, a double ended flash signal device supported upon the upper portion of the casing, means for supporting light bulbs in the casing for pro jecting light through opposed open ends of the casing, means centrally of the upper portion of the casing for supporting a battery therein for supply of current to said light bulbs and said flash signal, a switch device controlling the circuit to said bulbs and flash device, said first named means comprising frames movably supported in the casing to give access to said bulbs and a battery supported within the casing, said frames supporting, adjacent each bulb, a projecting lens and a reflector, and means on said frames for engaging a battery supported in the casing to definitely position the battery in said casing.

4. A signal device of the character described, com prising a hood-like casing, a double ended flash signal device supported upon the upper portion of the casing, means for supporting light bulbs in the casing for projecting light through opposed open ends of the casing, means centrally of the upper portion of the casing for supporting a battery therein for supply of current to said light bulbs and said flash signal, a switch device controlling the circuit to said bulbs and flash device, said first named means comprising frames movably supported in the casing to give access to said bulbs and a battery sup ported within the casing, said frames supporting, adjacent each bulb, a projecting lens and a reflector, means on said frames for engaging a battery supported in the casing to definitely position the battery in said casing, and the casing being apertured to receive the rods of signal flags detachable with respect to the casing.

5. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, and the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartment.

6. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartments, and projecting lenses supported in registering position with the openings in the end wall frames.

7. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a-vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the topwall of said casing, fasteningmeans for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom Wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartments, projecting lenses supported in registering position with the openings in the end wall frames, and reflectors supported upon the bottom wall of said end wall frames and registering with said bulbs.

8. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartments, projecting lenses supported in registering position with the openings in the end wall frames, reflectors supported upon the bottom wall of said end wall frames and registering with said bulbs, and the flanges of said end wall frames having downwardly extending fingerpiece portions.

9. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom Wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom Wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top Wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartment, and a pair of leg members pivoted to and normally collapsed upon inner surfaces of the lower portions of the side walls of the casing and adapted to be extended into projected position for raised support of the casing on a surface.

10. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top wall, said raised bottom wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged Within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartment, a pair of legs pivoted to and normally collapsed upon inner surfaces of the lower portions of the side walls of the casing and adapted to be extended into projected position for raised support of the casing on a surface, and means on the pivot of the leg members for clamping the leg members in extended and collapsed positions.

11. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, end wall frames hinged to the ends of said bottom wall, each of said frames comprising a bottom wall, a vertical wall terminating, at its upper end, in a flange abutting the lower surface of the top wall of said casing, fastening means for detachably securing the end wall frames to the top Wall, said raised bottom Wall and end frames forming, within the upper portion of the casing, a compartment, a flash signal device supported directly upon the top Wall of the casing, a light bulb supported on the bottom wall of each of said end frames and arranged within said compartment, the vertical wall of the end frames having openings in alinement with the bulbs supported in said compartment, a pair of legs pivoted to and normally collapsed upon inner surfaces of the lower portions of the side walls of the casing and adapted to be extended into projected position for raised support of the casing on a surface, means on the pivot of the leg members for clamping the leg members in extended and collapsed positions, and bracing brackets pivoted to each of the leg members and slidably coupled with the side walls of the casing for bracing the leg members when in extended operative position.

12. A signal device of the character described, comprising a hood-like casing defined by top and flared side walls, leaving the ends and bottom of the casing open, a double ended flash signal device supported directly upon the top of the casing, a raised bottom wall having ends terminating short of the open ends of the casing, means for movably supporting light bulbs at ends of said bottom wall for pr jecting light through opposed open ends of the casing, and two pairs of leg members normally collapsible within the open bottom of the casing and adapted to be extended for support of the casing in raised position with respect to a surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,490 Berry Nov. 7, 1950 2,564,145 Beall et a1 Aug. 14, 1951 2,612,548 Swanson Sept. 30, 1952 2,638,584 Fortney May 12, 1953 

